Nicholas Turcotte laid to rest

Friends and family of Nicholas Turcotte on Friday paid last respects to the 23-year-old Guardsman from Maple Grove, who was killed in Iraq on Dec. 4.

Turcotte, a Minnesota National Guard specialist, died in a truck rollover accident as his armored vehicle was accompanying a convoy near Nasiriyah. The accident is under investigation, but the Guard said it does not appear to have been caused during a hostile conflict.

Turcotte was the 51st person with strong ties to Minnesota who has been killed in connection with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His death came two days after two other Minnesota Guardsmen were killed and two more were wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

In a written statement shortly after the accident, Jennifer Turcotte said her husband loved being a soldier and that he died doing what he loved.

He was attached to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, based in West St. Paul.

From the Tribune

Related Link:
Nicholas D. Turcotte killed in vehicle accident